And the Winner is . . . .

Thanks for all of the great participation in my soap butt giveaway! Drumroll......and the winner is: Shari D.

I will be emailing Shari shortly so she can receive her soap!

Thanks again! Watch for another giveaway, coming soon.

Dana @ Soap Sense
www.dlpom.com

Wordless Wednesday...Half Staff

AP Photo

Etsy Treasury - Copper Turquoise Earrings

Thank you to Chris from CkshopperVintage on Etsy for featuring my Copper Turquoise Fringe Earrings in the Etsy Treasury, Fringe Benefits. Please check out the great items in this treasury and Chris's vintage shop.

~D.

Wordless Wednesday...Happy Face

Soap Butts.....GIVEAWAY!

Another giveaway...for handcrafted soap lovers!

Yes, soap butts...the last slice leftover from each log of soap that isn't pretty or big enough to be a bar on its own. But it is still great soap!

I'll choose 5 to 6 soap butts for you weighing at least one (1) pound when combined. They will be a mixture of essential oil and fragranced soaps as seen in my Etsy shop, SoapSense.

Contest runs through Monday, July 23rd, and is open to U.S. and Candian participants. Just enter through Rafflecopter below. Visit daily to better your chances of winning via a random, automated drawing.

Value: $14.00

TIP: If the Rafflecopter entry box does not show, try refreshing the page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday - Summer Blooms

Add your "Wordless Wednesday" link below, and be sure to visit at least two other links!

Cross Pendant: A Gift...

One of the nice things about being a jewelry designer is that you can make one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends.  And so, this is how this cross pendant design was created. 

Originally, it started out as a very simple and plain sterling silver cross with just the texture.  But I think the final piece turned out much more interesting.  Can you find all three of the Christian symbols?  One of them is partially hidden on the bail.

The sterling silver is attached with cold connection rivets to the copper piece.  The sawing, filing, fitting, and detailed work took MANY labor hours!

I'm happy my mom liked it.  Otherwise, it would have been for sale in my Etsy shop!

-Dana @ Coil & Flame

Wordless Wednesday - Good Ol' U.S.A.

Add your "Wordless Wednesday" link below, and be sure to visit at least two other links!

Tackle it Tuesday - Finishing Earwires

"Tackle it Tuesday" will be a new feature on my blog where (hopefully) I'll be sharing a tiny (or maybe not so tiny) tip for making your jewelry or soapmaking crafting better. I am a huge proponent of attention to detail in my work, along with working efficiently, and *trying* to stay organized with all of my supplies. I hope to bring you "ah-hah" moments, ideas to springboard your crafting from beginner to pro, and ways to improve your crafting time productivity.

Even better, other crafters around the world have a wealth of information to share about their handcrafted work. And this will be the place YOU can share a link back to your blog for any "Tackle it Tuesday" tips you have recently written about on your blog.

So, let's get started! Today's "Tackle it Tuesday" challenge is for all earring makers to finish their earwires.

What do I mean by "finish?" I'm talking about the end of the wire that goes through your piercing first. I see so many commercial and handmade earwires with blunt and/or prickly ends that it makes me cringe just thinking about putting those earrings on. You and your customers will appreciate a more finished product once you can tell the difference. Even if you use flush cutters to make your own earwires, the ends are blunt, and therefore more uncomfortable to put on than they need to be. 

Here is an example.  These photos are commercial earwires - the first earwire has a rough, pinched end, the second earwire has been smoothed:

All you need is a small piece of extra fine sandpaper. Round off the blunt or pinched end and remove any burrs by gently rubbing the wire end at an angle on the sandpaper. We aren't looking for a sharp point, just a rounded, smooth end to the wire.

If you have a tumbler with steel shot, just add a little water and a splash of Dawn dishwashing soap and tumble for about an hour to polish the sanded end, and add a little extra hardness to the wire.

You're done! You and your customers will notice the difference.

Now, it's your turn! What crafter's tip would you like others in your field to know about on "Tackle it Tuesday?"  You may enter your link below...but please visit and comment on at least two of the other links that inspire you!

And the Winner is.....

Thanks for all of the great participation in my sterling silver walking stick earring giveaway!   It is nice to know that so many of you still prefer silver jewelry - because that is mostly what I create.  I've also gathered some good ideas for future giveaways, so thanks, and check back!

Drumroll......and the winner is:  Duffy P. B.

I will be emailing Duffy shortly so she can receive her earrings! 

Thanks again! Watch for another giveaway, coming soon.

Dana @ Coil and Flame
www.dlpom.com